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Step 4: Setting Up Your First Agent

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Written by BonData Support
Updated over 3 weeks ago

What Are Agents ?

Agents in BonData are automated workflows that let you take action on data across your connected systems. Each Agent defines:

  • Conditions – when something should happen (e.g., "Accounts missing owner")

  • Actions – what should happen (e.g., "Send Slack notification", "Update record in Salesforce")

BonData constantly monitors your systems and executes your Agents when your defined rules are met—no code required.


Why Use Agents?

  • Automate Repetitive Tasks – Save time on manual exports, updates, and alerts.

  • Unify Disconnected Systems – Sync records, trigger actions, and gain visibility across CRMs, support tools, billing platforms, and more.

  • Stay in Control – Choose whether tasks run automatically or require approval before executing.


Types of Agents

  • Automation Agent– Triggers actions based on conditions like missing values or risk signals.

  • Migration Agent– Moves data between systems without storing it in BonData, with explicit field mapping.


Quick Start: Building Your First Agent

1. Access the Agent Builder
Go to the BonData dashboard → Agents + Create New

2. Name & Describe
Give it a clear name (e.g., “Accounts Missing Owner”) and optional description.

3. First Node

To get started with your first node, click on the + Button

4. Get Data

A new blank Agent's first node will always be the Get Data node

5. Choose: Select Entity and Fields

Select the Entity and the Fields you want your Agent to monitor.

6. Define Conditions (Filters)
Add a filter from the + → Flow Basics

7. Add a Simple Filter

In the next window, select Simple Filter

8. Choose: Select Entity, Fields, Operator and Condition

Select the Entity, Fields, Operator and Condition you want to filter results by

  • AND Logic

    To Filter using the AND Logic, simply add another Simple Filter to your next node from the Then + option

    a.

    b.

  • OR Logic

    To Filter using the OR Logic, add your condition to the existing node from the + Add condition option

    a.

    b.

9. Set Actions
Decide what to do when filters are matched:

  • Create records

  • Update records

  • Send Slack alerts

  • Send email alerts

  • Generate CSV

  • Send HTTP request

Field Mapping

  • Choose Execution Mode

    • Automatic: Runs tasks (actions) immediately

    • Manual: Requires your approval for each task

  • Preview Your Agents (Dry Run)

    Before running it live, click the "Test" button (top right, next to Run and Save). This creates a preview of the tasks without performing actions—ideal for reviewing what data would be created or updated. Tasks will be shown in the panel on the right hand side of the screen.

  • Make It Live
    To turn your Agents into a running, automated workflow:

    • Click on Active (top right)

    • Choose Run once or Schedule to run periodically

      • "Run once" will run the agent once, creating tasks. Depending on how the tasks were set, they will either run automatically once or wait for you to run the tasks.

      • "Schedule to run periodically" allows you to define an automated frequency of running the task (e.g., every 15 mins or custom cron expression)

    • Choose whether to Allow task duplication or not

      By default disabled.

      • If you choose to enable, then BonData will continue to create new tasks based on your agent's results.

      • If you choose to leave disabled, the BonData will not create a new task if a previous agent run already created a task for the result in question

    • Click Apply to activate the Agent for the first time


Monitoring & Managing Agents

  • See Task Previews: Right menu on the Agent page shows upcoming tasks

  • Track Task Execution:

    • More icon -> Agent Dashbord next to Activate

    • Monitor task statuses: Running, Pending, Failed, Success

    • Analyze Matrix results by clicking on View Results for Get Data nodes, Bonds nodes, Filter nodes...

    • Click on a task from the task list to review task outputs


Mentions

Use "Mentions" to dynamically insert field values from one system into another (e.g., take “Region” from a CSV and insert it into Salesforce's BillingState).

You can also use:

  • Conditional Mentions – Apply logic (e.g., if 1 → “{variable from Region field}”, else → Static value: "Other")

  • Default Values – Use fallback (default) values when source fields are blank


Use Cases

  • Data Cleanup – Flag or export incomplete records

  • Data Sync – Keep status fields aligned across tools

  • Alerts – Notify teams when rules are met, or periodically with updated information

  • Migrations – Move records from a legacy system into a new platform with field mapping


Best Practices

  • Start small: test with a simple condition and action.

  • Use Test (Dry Run) to validate before activating.

  • Periodically audit filters and field mappings.

  • Monitor task volumes to catch overly broad rules.


FAQs

Can I add multiple actions?
Yes. One Agent can perform several actions per matched record.

Can I test without making changes?
Yes. Use Test or set execution to Manual.

Can I work across systems?
Absolutely. Agents can reference multiple integrations.

Can I undo a mistake?
Check the Task Logs for affected records. Since BonData doesn’t store full datasets, rollback is manual in the original systems.

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